POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. — The search for a Mason County boy over the weekend had a tragic ending.
Volunteers started a search for the youngster, age 10, Saturday afternoon after he had gone squirrel hunting with his grandfather Saturday morning in the area of Salt Creek in Mason County near Gallipolis Ferry.
Emergency crews were initially dispatched to the area for an ATV accident involving the grandfather. He relayed to first responders he had been searching for the boy who went missing an hour earlier. The boy was hunting and had a .22 rifle with him.
Volunteers joined the search effort in the remote area for the rest of the day. The search restarted early Sunday morning. The Mason County Sheriff’s Department said the youngster’s body was discovered around 7 a.m. Sunday and he was dead of a single gunshot wound.
State Police spent the rest of Sunday on scene investigating and the boy’s body has been sent to the state Medical Examiner’s office. Investigators have not indicated if they suspect foul play.